Tuesday, May 30, Northern Today Abridged

'Educator on the ice'
Crystal Lake teacher selected to participate
in Antarctic research program

Fourth-grade teacher Betty Trummel is willing to go to the ends of the earth to make learning an adventure for her students. Toward that end, she's headed to the Antarctic this fall – again.

Trummel, an award-winning teacher at Husmann Elementary School in Crystal Lake, also has been a part-time faculty member at NIU, where she is working on her Ph.D. She is one of four teachers nationwide who will travel with scientists to Antarctica to participate in a unique science and outreach program.

Beginning in October, the 'educators on the ice' will spend about 2½ months in the south polar region with the scientific team for ANDRILL, a $30 million geologic drilling project involving scientists from the United States, New Zealand, Italy and Germany. NIU geologist Ross Powell serves as co-chief scientist for the U.S. contingent of ANDRILL, and at least five other NIU faculty members and students will be part of the scientific team.

Trummel was named to ANDRILL's Research Immersion Project for Science Educators (ARISE), an outreach and education program that also will include a handful of teachers from outside the United States. In 1998, she participated in a similar effort for the Cape Roberts program, ANDRILL's predecessor drilling project in the Antarctic.

“With her boundless energy, enthusiasm, creativity and experience, Betty Trummel is an invaluable part of our team,” Powell says. “Betty's first experience in the Antarctic allowed her to reach out to thousands of students across the globe. With this new project, we know she will serve as a leader among the educators and will build on her success exponentially.

“The educators on the ice are a critical part of our program,” Powell adds. “Not only do they do scientific work, but they also provide a conduit through which students, teachers and the general public learn about the scientific research that we're doing.”

ANDRILL scientists are working to recover geologic records buried beneath the frozen Antarctic sea. Scientists will use a pressurized hot-water system to carve a drill hole through the Ross Ice Shelf , a floating slab of ice that is thicker than the length of two football fields. Atop the hole, a powerful drilling rig will sink a hollow steel drill pipe through the ice and more than a half mile of seawater before reaching the ocean floor. A drill bit will then penetrate another half mile into the seabed, extracting cylinders of sediment.

The sediment cores hold information about the history of climate on the continent and ultimately will provide scientists with a better understanding of contemporary global warming trends.

Trummel says the mystery surrounding Antarctica provides a stepping off point with students.

“There is such a sense of adventure connected to the Antarctic. It's the coldest and windiest continent on earth and, for my fourth-grade students, the farthest place from Crystal Lake,” Trummel says. “I plan to involve students in this adventure in such a way that it excites them to learn more about the process of scientific research and about the continent's geology, geography, climate and history.”

Trummel holds a master's degree in outdoor education from NIU and has regularly taught courses to NIU pre-service teachers on how to integrate science into elementary-school curriculums.

“My fourth-graders will write about Antarctica , study maps and history, learn about the process and content of science and use their math skills to create tables and charts,” Trummel says. “I love everything about teaching, but for me, science brings it all together.”

Trummel's previous expedition to the Antarctic benefited not only the students in her classroom and school, but also thousands of others worldwide. The Crystal Lake resident and mother of six has given presentations on her work to teachers in cities across the country, as well as in Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. Her current fourth-graders have pen pals in four countries on three continents.

“I thought the experience of going to the Antarctic would be the highlight, but I enjoyed the education and outreach aspect so much that it's become a huge part of my life,” Trummel says. “I've talked to over 20,000 people. Because of all the international connections, I'm able to bring the world to my students.”

When Trummel introduces her students to the Antarctic next fall, they will read and write about famous explorers, learn how scientists take field notes and study simulated sediment cores (made of different varieties of chocolate). Once the teacher leaves on her adventure, she plans to keep an online journal and have daily e-mail contact with her students. She also intends to write a children's book on the Antarctic.

ANDRILL is expected to be a focal point during International Polar Year (2007-09), a worldwide campaign of polar research and education. The National Science Foundation is providing financial support for the U.S. portion of ANDRILL science and outreach.

Muggles coming to NIU for a taste of Hogwarts

As self-proclaimed Harry Potter freaks, Karley Adney and Caresse John certainly know quidditch from Quirrell, Hagrid from Hermione and the Weasley brothers from the Weird Sisters.

The NIU faculty members have read the Harry Potter series many times, know the characters and culture, have seen all the movies and even use the books as an instructional tool in their freshman composition and literature courses.

Now Adney and John are turning their attention to a younger audience in launching the first-ever NIU Muggle Academy, an academic summer camp that will be modeled after Hogwarts, the fictional school of witchcraft and wizardry where Harry Potter comes of age.

The Muggle Academy will run from June 18 to June 23 and is geared for junior high and high school students. Campers will meet peers who share a passion for Potter, play a mortal version of quidditch, participate in trivia contests, attend a Yule Ball and watch and study the four Harry Potter movies.

Participating students will reside and eat in the Summer Conference Center, a residence hall on NIU's campus. Cost and registration information can be found online at http://www.niu.edu/clasep/Camps/.

Adney and John, who are both working on their Ph.D.s in English, came up with the idea for the Muggle Academy after attending the Witching Hour symposium held last fall in Salem, Mass. Adney was a presenter at the academic meeting, which explored the Harry Potter books and culture.

“It was a 12-hour drive home, and we basically planned the whole camp,” John says. Although there is some debate among academics, both she and Adney consider the Harry Potter series to be great literature.

“J.K. Rowling is a much more complex writer than people think on their first read,” John says. “She has a big plan in her head, is good at foreshadowing and knows a lot about science, math and mythology. On top of all that, she's just a good storyteller. You can't put the books down.”

Adney, who is publishing a scholarly paper this summer on teaching Harry Potter to college students and goes by the e-mail moniker of “muggleprof,” calls the series an instant classic.

“I teach it because I think everyone can relate to it,” she says. “Whether they like the books or not, the students relate to the issues of friendship, race, gender and class. The characters and themes are very diverse, so there's usually something that speaks to a reader.”

Adney also notes that Rowling's books pay homage to the great works of western literature. For instance, in the fourth book, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” the band that provides entertainment at the Yule Ball is known as the Weird Sisters, a clear allusion to the three witches, also known as the weird sisters, in Shakespeare's “Macbeth.”

The NIU Muggle Academy will not only focus on literature but also will incorporate interdisciplinary lessons. NIU professors from various departments will serve as guest speakers on topics related to the science and mathematics of the Harry Potter series. As at Hogwarts, campers will be sorted into houses. Each house will work on a group project, designing a new wizarding school, quidditch team or shop for Diagon Alley (a favored shopping district for wizards).

“The activities are designed to make campers combine their writing, science and math skills,” Adney says. “We want students to learn more about regular school subjects through the magical lens of the Harry Potter series.”

Deborah DeRosa, an NIU professor of English with an expertise in children's literature, will serve as faculty adviser for the NIU Muggle Academy, and NIU students who are also Harry Potter enthusiasts have volunteered to help with the camp.

“The intent is to bring the literature to life,” DeRosa says. “It'll be a complete immersion. The students should get a lot out of this learning experience, and I think they'll have a great time as well.”

Singh named chair of Marketing

Tanuja Singh has big plans for the NIU Department of Marketing: She plans to take it global.

That might be overstating things a bit. However, the newly appointed chair does plan to work with faculty to create a new area of emphasis in worldwide marketing, a natural fit considering the university's service region.

“We have many global corporations in the area, but there are very few schools that offer any sort of globally focused program at the undergraduate level,” says Singh, who believes such a program would bolster an already strong department.

“We already have outstanding programs in professional sales and direct marketing, and I think this is another area where we can build a reputation for excellence,” she adds. “We want to be the marketing department that students come to because of all of the great areas of study we have available.”

Denise Schoenbachler, who will step down as marketing chair July 1 to become dean of the College of Business, believes Singh is the right person to undertake that task.

“Business people today, almost regardless of their job, find themselves in situations where they must interact globally,” Schoenbachler says. “Tanuja has always believed in the importance of preparing students to function in a global economy, and she is well-qualified to make that an area of excellence in the department and the college as a whole.”

Among Singh's qualifications are years of experience teaching classes in global marketing strategy at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and extensive research in the areas of global and cross-cultural marketing and consumer decision making. She also is an active participant in the World Marketing Congress, chairing several different conference tracks and programs relating to global marketing over the years and works as a consultant, both locally and internationally, for companies learning how to analyze markets or conduct negotiations in the global marketplace.

Singh has the distinction of having been named the NIU International Educator of the Year in 2002, remains an active participant on the Campus International Programs Advisory Council and is a member of the NIU Multicultural Task Force.

While increasing the department's global focus is her primary goal, Singh also plans to devote a great deal of energy to building upon the department's already strong links to the Chicagoland business community and enhancing the department's reputation within academe.

Those are lofty ambitions, she admits, but she is confident that the strength of the department makes those goals attainable.

“We have a phenomenally talented department,” she says. “We do excellent research, are published in top journals and are extremely committed to our students. We have a wonderful culture and work together well.”

Singh earned her Ph.D. in marketing from Southern Illinois University and taught briefly at the Florida Institute of Technology before coming to NIU in 1996. In addition to her business degrees, Singh also holds a master's degree in particle physics.

She lives in Batavia with her husband and their cats.

CEET names new associate dean, chair

Two longtime members of the faculty in the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology have moved into leadership positions in the college.

Mansour Tahernezhadi has been named the associate dean of the college, while Omar Ghrayeb will become chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

“I am very pleased with both of these selections, and I look forward to working with both of these individuals to move the college forward,” Dean Promod Vohra said.

“Dr. Tahernezhadi has done an excellent job as acting associate dean for the last three years, and I look forward to continuing to work with him on issues of enrollment management and building upon our partnerships with high schools and community colleges,” Vohra added. “Similarly, I am excited to work with Dr. Ghrayeb to realize his exciting vision for the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. They are both excellent choices. The search committees are to be commended for their work.”

Tahernezhadi, who was an associate professor of electrical engineering before stepping in as acting associate dean in 2003, is excited at the opportunity to build upon his work of the past three years.

“I've enjoyed the job. It offers a lot of variety,” Tahernezhadi said.

One of his primary goals now, he said, is to revitalize the curriculum of the college.

“Engineering and technology, by their nature, are fast-moving disciplines. Programs have to be agile to ensure that curricular offerings are on par with industry demands,” he said, citing as an example the fast-growing need to educate students in all things related to nanotechnology.

Keeping programs on the cutting edge will help Tahernezhadi accomplish two more of his goals: moving the college up the ranks of engineering programs in the nation, and making the college a first choice for top students. As part of those efforts, he also hopes to increase interest among high school students in engineering careers.

“Less than 5 percent of high school students consider engineering as a career, and its not due to lack of preparedness as much as it is a lack of awareness,” said Tahernezhadi, who plans to build upon a recently established “high school counselor day” to increase the visibility of CEET and the careers its graduates can pursue.

Other items on his “To Do” list include increasing external funding for the college and expanding opportunities for alumni to reconnect with CEET, which in turn should increase opportunities for students to land internships, research projects and jobs.

Ghrayeb, who joined the college six years ago after teaching at Southwest Oklahoma State, has similarly ambitious goals for the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, not the least of which is educating potential students about careers in industrial or systems engineering.

“Not many people know what industrial and systems engineering is all about,” Ghrayeb said. “They think it involves only manufacturing, which is one facet of it, but our students can also help complicated ‘systems,' like hospitals, make more efficient use of their manpower, machinery and resources. We have to better inform potential students about the great careers in this field.”

Beyond that, Ghrayeb also hopes to expand and improve the department's relationships with companies across the region.

“The globalization of the economy is prompting local industries to look for new ways of cutting costs and increasing efficiency – which is precisely the role of industrial and systems engineers. We have great expertise to offer,” he said.

Concurrently, Ghrayeb plans to work with faculty in the department to improve the quality of research, update the curriculum, increase external funding and attract higher-caliber students to the program.

“I have three pages of action points that need to be implemented,” said Ghrayeb, who added that he believes the quality of the department's faculty and students will allow him to reach those goals.

Lusk named chair of School of Nursing

A Red Cross nurse, touted as “the best-dressed woman in the world,” stands ready and proud on a battlefield in France during World War I.

Next to her, surrounding a good-natured patient's hospital bed with hammers, saws and scissors, are a group of fun-loving nurses adorned in the starched white uniforms and crisp white caps not worn or seen in generations.

These are framed works of nearly century-old art – the first a print of a painting by Gilbert Gaul, the second a print of a black-and-white photograph – that depict Brigid Lusk's love of the history of nursing.

Yet it is the future of nursing that lies in her hands.

Lusk, who served as acting chair of the NIU School of Nursing for two years, has accepted the appointment of chair.

“I'm thrilled and honored,” says Lusk, who earned her master's degree at NIU and joined the nursing faculty in 1995. “This is an exciting time to take the leadership in the School of Nursing. The College of Health and Human Sciences is conducting a self-study, and the committees are working to look at ways we can maximize resources while simultaneously growing in the ways we need to grow.”

“The College of Health and Human Sciences conducted a national search and feels fortunate that Dr. Lusk has accepted the position,” Dean Shirley Richmond says. “Dr. Lusk has shown excellent leadership as acting chair, and I am confident that she will continue to lead the School of Nursing forward in reaching the goals and challenges of the future in health care.”

First on Lusk's agenda is a meeting with the school's faculty, whom she praises for their teaching, their research and their success at winning external funding.

She wants to update the school's strategic plan – “It expired when I walked in the door as acting chair, and we've put that on hold,” she says – and to determine the faculty's willingness to create and staff an accelerated baccalaureate program.

The nursing shortage persists, Lusk says, and NIU “is poised to be a leader” in finding ways to relieve or resolve the crisis.

“This program would be for people who already have bachelor's degrees who want to become registered nurses. This would help to address the nursing shortage with rapidly prepared nurses,” she says. “This could take place over 12 to 18 months – summers, weekends, odd hours – as something innovative to use this building over the 12 months of the year.”

Lusk also is working with other nurse leaders in the Illinois Council on Nursing Resources to support Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to initiate a centralized nursing information center in Illinois.

Meanwhile, she continues to forge new partnerships with community colleges and hospitals in northern Illinois to offer the school's popular RN-to-BS completion program. A cohort of registered nurses with associate's degrees will begin this fall at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village.

NIU also recently announced a new partnership to provide bachelor's degrees in nursing at Harper College. Starting this fall, NIU nursing professors will teach classes on the college's Palatine campus.

“We have some great faculty here, and we're in the process of hiring one or two more. We also have great students,” says Lusk, who continues to celebrate recent news of an unprecedented 100-percent pass rate on the December state board exams. “We have a new M.S. track, and the first class just started in January of this year.”

A native of the United Kingdom, Lusk immigrated to the United States in 1974 and worked as a nurse in medical intensive care at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and various area hospitals for about 15 years.

She taught as an instructor in the School of Nursing for three years before leaving for the University of Illinois at Chicago to pursue her Ph.D., which she earned in 1995. Her résumé also includes previous experience as an administrator – she served as acting associate dean in 2001 – and she's writing a book on the history of the nursing care of cancer patients from 1880 to 1950.

Lusk and her husband, Rusty, an acting division chair for math and computer science at Argonne National Laboratory, are the parents of two grown children and three cats.

December nursing grads sweep state board exams

Every December graduate from the NIU School of Nursing passed the state board exams.

Scores in the 100th percentile on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX) mean NIU performed better than or as well as Illinois' 34 nursing programs with graduates in the fall semester of 2005 and the nation's 750 programs with fall semester graduates.

Comparatively, the pass rate is 86 percent for all nursing programs in Illinois and for all U.S. programs. Nursing school graduates must pass the comprehensive four-hour test to officially become registered nurses and practice anywhere in the country.

Brigid Lusk, the new chair of the NIU School of Nursing who has guided the College of Health and Human Sciences school for the last two years in an acting capacity, said “everyone is celebrating” the unprecedented accomplishment.

“It's an indication that our program is very strong. We are educating our students in exactly what they need to become safe, experienced practitioners,” Lusk said. “Our program is timely, and our great faculty are producing some excellent graduates. We're quite rigorous, and our students appreciate that they need to work very hard to succeed in this program.”

More than 1,000 students apply each year for only 140 seats, she said, and this good news is likely to draw more applications. “It's a joy to accept the crème de la crème,” Lusk said.

NIU also offers its students preparation programs for NCLEX, including tests to determine their probability of passing the boards and help with studying.

The NIU School of Nursing has offered an exciting, vibrant nursing education since 1959. Graduates are skilled in applying knowledge of the physical and social sciences as integral aspects of nursing, and are ready to enter master's degree programs, including those at NIU.

In recent years, the school has formed several partnerships with hospitals and community colleges across northern Illinois to offer an RN-to-BS completion program. Designed with respect for knowledge already attained and understanding of the real world of working RNs, the program prepares professional nurses for leadership roles in patient care across the spectrum of health care agencies and settings.

NIU students will work
on Anthony Hopkins movie

Six NIU students in the Department of Communication are shooting for the stars this summer, as in the Hollywood variety.

As part of a unique summer course, the students, who all have advanced production skills, are headed to Los Angeles to work on a film written and directed by Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins, who also stars.

Christian Slater and Hollywood veteran Gena Rowlands reportedly have signed onto the project as well.

The graduate-level and undergraduate NIU students will work on the film 12 to 16 hours each day, six days a week, for five consecutive weeks beginning in early June. The first and last weeks will be spent on a Los Angeles set. In between, the students will work on location in the California desert.

The participants say they won't mind the grueling schedule.

“How many chances do you get to work on a feature-length film made by Anthony Hopkins? I couldn't pass that up,” said graduate student Mike Gentile of Lindenhurst. “It's pretty wild. We'll have five days off in five weeks.”

The other students involved are Becca Berry of Kenosha, Wis., Jeff Negus of Palatine, Dan Marder of River Forest, Mark Hoffmeister of Naperville and Tim Piper of Lombard.

Communication Professor Laura Vazquez and NIU communication alumnus Robert Katz developed the internship-like course. Katz is a veteran Hollywood producer whose long list of film credits includes “Seabiscuit,” “One Hour Photo,” “Dave Chappelle's Block Party” and “Crash,” winner of the 2006 Oscar for Best Picture.

“Robert proposed the possibility of having students go out to Los Angeles,” said Vazquez, who will accompany the students. “I then created a course where the students will actually earn credits.

“It's my hope that this will be the first of many such summers,” she added.

Shortly after graduating with honors from NIU in 1987, Katz moved to Los Angeles. By his own account, he “worked for free, kicked, scratched and clawed” his way into the film industry. Once he began working regularly in Hollywood, he reconnected with his alma mater.

“I offered to come to NIU to share my experiences in the film business,” he said. “I was inspired by (director) Robert Zemeckis, who did the same when I was an undergrad.”

Katz has frequently come back to NIU and, remembering his own early career struggles, was eager to develop an opportunity that would allow students to experience what it's like to work on the set of a major motion picture. “There is nothing like practical experience to enhance study,” he said.

Hopkins' film is called “Slipstream.” It's described as a noir-comedy about an actor and would-be screenwriter who, at the very moment of his meeting with fate, comes to discover that life is random and fortune is sightless as he is thrown into a vortex where time, dreams and reality collide. The creative team features acclaimed cinematographer Dante Spinotti.

Vazquez said the students will be placed in mentored internship positions that match their interests in camerawork, production, set design, art department work and line production. Vazquez, who is a video documentary filmmaker, also will serve as an intern working with the film editor. “I'll be available for the students, but I want to learn as much as I can, too,” she said. “This is what I teach.”

Senior Jeff Negus said he's hoping to hone his photography skills. “I'd be most interested in doing any kind of camerawork or lighting,” Negus said. “But just being on the set is enough. I would do pretty much anything to be a part of it.”

The students also will meet regularly with Vazquez and keep written, video or audio journals.

“I know some of my students are interested in finding careers in the film industry, and part of this experience is about reaffirming that career path and making connections,” Vazquez added. “They'll learn practical things about moviemaking, such as the responsibilities of a producer, director and other crew members. They also will find out just what it takes to make a movie look like it does.”

Senior Tim Piper plans to make the most of the experience.

“I'm going to be observing everything, just trying to take it all in and learn as much as I can every day,” Piper said. “This is kind of the first step toward getting your foot in the door, so I also hope to meet a lot of people and do a lot of networking. This is definitely the field I want to get into.”

Vazquez also is trying to arrange meetings with NIU alumni who work in the Hollywood movie and television industry, including Bill Weinman, who was on campus this spring to judge a music-video competition. Weinman is a film and sound editor whose credits include “Shawshank Redemption” and “The Fugitive.”

“Robert Katz and Bill Weinman have been generous with their time, coming back to NIU to talk with students and encourage and support them,” Vazquez said. “They also continue to be very helpful to our graduates who have moved out to L.A. Our Hollywood alums have been great in that regard. To have these busy people take time out of their lives and give back to their alma mater in this way is just amazing. Their life experiences and connections are invaluable.”

Golden Apple ceremony to broadcast
on Chicago PBS television station WTTW

NIU's trio of Golden Apples will glow in the spotlight at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 1, when the awards ceremony is broadcast on Chicago's WTTW-Channel 11.

Two of this year's 10 Golden Apples are alumni of NIU College of Education, and one is a current Ed.D. student in the Department of Teaching and Learning.

Kristie Charles, a third-grade teacher at Hunting Ridge Elementary School in Palatine, earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in elementary education from NIU. She also received her National Board Certification in 2001. Dianne Hamelly, a first- and second-grade multi-age teacher at Fremont Elementary School in Mundelein, has a master's degree in education/reading.

Sandy Noel, a physical education teacher at Hatch Elementary School in Oak Park, is working on her doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction.

All were honored Saturday, May 13, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The ceremony will air again at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 18, on WTTW.

“It's been an amazing thing,” Charles says. “Teaching was always something I wanted to do. I grew up with a family of educators. My mom is a retired kindergarten teacher from the same district. My father was a principal. Their desire to make a difference in children's lives was contagious.”

Charles has taught in Palatine for 12 years, following a decade in Carol Stream, where she started her career.

Students in her classroom are engaged in “hands-on” activities that are “just right” for them. Students work independently, in partners and in small groups to practice and review taught and modeled lessons.

Her students enjoy a teacher who plays a large role in their lives, in and out of school.

“I'm part of my kids' lives, not just in school. I make a connection not just here but outside. I'm going to baseball games, soccer games, first communions. That bond really makes us stronger,” she says. “I became a teacher to influence and impact the kids of today, not just academically but also socially and emotionally. I teach the ‘whole' student. In my classroom, I have children who come to school with very different backgrounds and experiences. Working closely with the parents of my students builds a strong home-school connection.”

Charles also hopes to imbue her pupils with “a love of learning that never ends.”

“I love this age. The kids still love being here. They're very excited, very energetic and so willing to learn. They're just like little sponges,” she says. “Every day is different, and you never know what to expect.”

That enthusiasm is familiar to Hamelly.

“I love just watching the kids grow and develop. I love the kids learning to read and write, and being able to communicate and think,” she says. “They're so excited to learn.”

Hamelly, who also has taught for 22 years, works with her students for two years. She meets a new crop of first-graders each fall in her multi-age classroom, one of five at Fremont: two are first- and second-grade; two are third- and fourth-grade.

“It's a choice program, and something we started about 13 years ago,” she says. “The kids work very well together. The second-year students mentor the first-year students. They become leaders. They model behaviors, discussion and language. They know how the class runs, and they help on a day-to-day basis with the younger kids.”

Her own path to teaching began in a similar way. “I always liked school,” she says, “and I always enjoyed helping around the classroom when I was in school. I thought this would be a good thing to do.”

The children in Hamelly's classroom enjoy a teacher whose love of literature pervades her lessons.

“We work every day on poems and songs, and we read literature for comprehension strategies. Much of it is tied to our theme – we have five or six major themes a year – and tie in several other math, science and social studies activities,” she says. “We also integrate reading and a lot of writing. The kids look to literature for models of good writing, and I teach lots of mini-lessons on approaches to writing.”

Noel, who's studying for her doctorate, has no intention of leaving the gym behind.

“I'm at NIU because I want to help write curriculum so that other people can use what I do. I've piloted programs here in nutrition and connected that to social studies. In addition to learning about the continents in the classroom, we travel to them in the gym. We take a trip to Italy and eat bruschetta,” she says. “We don't take a paper-and-pencil test on why this is good for us. We learn about good nutrition by eating.”

A lifetime love of sports helped her decide to teach P.E. after earning a bachelor's degree in English and psychology:

“A whole new world was opened up to me” while earning a teaching certification in physical education at DePaul University, she says. “I am so much into the mind-body connection and getting into a zone through experiential learning, and I hope that this puts physical education in the forefront so that everyone understands that children, to perform better, need enough sleep, need to stay hydrated, need to eat right and need to exercise during the day.”

Now she works to keep young bodies and minds active.

“What I think makes me different is the fact that I don't just teach skills. There are many concepts that I'm teaching. When we play tag games, all my tag games are learning games. If you get tagged, you have to stop and play ‘patty cake' with your partner. ‘7, 12, 5, 5, 4, 33 vertebrae and no more.' We're learning about bones,” she says. “I teach many concepts about the body, and I incorporate the arts program so the children learn music, movement and drama, and they're getting fit while they're learning.”

A total of 850 teachers from Cook, Lake and DuPage counties were nominated for the award, first presented in 1986. In addition to $3,000, each will receive a tuition-free fall-term sabbatical at Northwestern University, a personal computer from Apple and membership in the Golden Apple Academy.

NIU prepares for second Rural Health Careers Camp

Few who saw Kristi Yamaoka's accident on national television, as it aired live or in that weekend's endless highlight reels, will forget it.

Yamaoka is the Southern Illinois University cheerleader who fell from the top of a pyramid of her teammates in early March, plunging 15 feet onto her head.

The 18-year-old, who suffered a chipped neck vertebra and a concussion, made her terrifying drop to the gym floor even more memorable by moving her arms in time to the school's fight song while paramedics wheeled her out in a back and neck brace.

High school sophomores attending next month's Rural Health Careers Camp at NIU will have the opportunity to see and experience how first-responders and health care workers react to such an emergency.

A member of the NIU cheerleading squad has volunteered to portray a victim similar to Yamaoka during a demonstration for the opening night of the camp, scheduled from June 9 to 11. Emergency medical technicians from the DeKalb Fire Department will perform the mock rescue.

“The labs on Saturday are designed to take the students to the next level – to understand the kind of testing and therapy the different departments would pursue following that kind of injury,” said Alan Robinson, director of outreach for the NIU College of Health and Human Sciences and an organizer of the camp.

“Clinical Laboratory Sciences, for example, they're going to want to check the urine for blood. There could be internal bleeding. Is there evidence of a concussion? At nursing, they'll do a quick physical assessment, see if she can move her eyes, look left, look right,” Robinson added. “At the physical therapy lab, where they have certain kinds of beach balls that are heavier, they'll toss those around. It helps build strength. And the balance beams – they'll be working with that a little bit, especially after a head injury.”

The Health Careers Camp is part of a critical effort to encourage students from small towns to realize their potential and return to their hometowns after college to work as health care professionals.

Students participate in hour-long, hands-on experiences in clinical laboratory sciences, nursing, nutrition, physical therapy and speech, language and hearing. A session with a “career-cruiser” computer program will expose them to an even wider array of jobs in the health care field.

The concept grew from a summit held two years ago in Rockford at the University of Illinois National Center for Rural Health Professions, a co-sponsor of the camp.

Other sponsors include the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford 's Rural Medical Education Program, the NIU Colleges of Education and Health and Human Sciences, the Northern Illinois Area Health Education Center and the Illinois Rural Health Association.

Last year's first-time camp proved successful, Robinson said.

“The kids really enjoyed it,” he said. “Three are coming back from last year's group to act as junior counselors. We've invited them to interface with the kids and provide their reflections a year later.”

“Many of these students are leaning toward at least two or three health care careers, and this helps firm up their decision,” said Al Ottens, a professor in the College of Education 's Department of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education and another organizer of the event. “It also helps them identify careers they might not have thought of, and helps them become aware of the opportunities for health careers in rural areas of the state. Most of them are coming from the northwest quadrant of the state.”

Counselors from DeKalb and Dixon will attend the camp to provide information on what courses students entering their sophomore year should pursue to build the foundation for health care professions. They also will discuss scholarships and other financial aid options.

“Our main role is to alert guidance counselors in the region about the opportunities in health care,” said Ottens, who trains school counselors. “Many times school counselors are on the front line in terms of identifying students who have these interests.”

Retirement reception planned for Sharon Howard

A retirement reception for Sharon Howard, director of the Women's Resource Center, is scheduled for 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1, at the Chandelier Room of Adams Hall. Presentations will take place at 4 p.m.

Subway to replace McDonald's in HSC

A Subway sandwich shop soon will take the place of the former McDonald's in the lower level of the Holmes Student Center.

McDonald's chose not to renew its lease for the restaurant space, creating an opportunity for new options, HSC Director Mitch Kielb said.

“McDonald's was a good tenant and popular with a lot of people, but I think this will be a good change,” said Kielb, adding students he has spoken with are excited to have a “fresher” fast food option available.

Kielb expects construction to take place during June and July, with the sandwich shop likely to open in August.

Once in operation, the shop will likely have hours similar to those kept by McDonald's and will offer some sort of breakfast menu.

NIU Art Museum prepares to rent artworks for offices

The NIU Art Museum's popular “Art to Lend” program takes place next month.

NIU employees can view available artworks from the museum's permanent collection that can be rented for display in university offices. Visit the Altgeld Gallery, on the west end of the first floor, between Monday, June 5, and Thursday, June 15, to view and make selections from the works on exhibit. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment.

As in previous years, works will be assigned by lottery based on preferred selections. The lottery is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, June 15, in the North and Rotunda galleries of Altgeld Hall.

Works on paper currently on loan to borrowers, and those that have been out for more than the maximum five years, will need to be retrieved by the museum for conservations purposes. Museum staff will contact current borrowers regarding their return. To cause less disruption to offices, a single de-installation of current holdings and installation of new selections can be arranged.

All funds generated from this program are used for the direct care and maintenance of the collection, including matting and framing, which makes new selections available. Fees have risen over the years, but both the initial installation fee and the yearly rental fee cover only part of the museum's actual incurred costs.

Delivery and installation for artwork will take place during the latter half of June and resume in August and September, depending on the amount of work selected and the availability and schedules of museum staff. Those not at the drawing, or without completed contracts, will be notified by phone June 19 or 20. A contract/invoice then will be sent.

For more information, or a copy of the “Art to Lend” policy, call (815) 753-1936.

August volunteers sought to welcome students

Plans are under way to welcome NIU's new and returning students for Fall 2006. The continued and valued support of the NIU family and DeKalb community is critical to transitioning this year's incoming students and their families into the Huskie family.

Michael J. Coakley, assistant vice president for Student Life, invites the university community to participate in this year's Welcome Days, from Thursday, Aug. 24, through Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Volunteers are needed to help the Division of Student Affairs at three events: Opening Day, Huskies Helping Huskies and House Calls. Volunteer for one, two, or all three activities. Any effort is appreciated.

Opening Day volunteers will assist students and their families, Thursday, Aug. 24, by driving golf carts loaded with student belongings from the family car to the residence hall. Student volunteers will help move students' possessions inside to their residence hall rooms. As a thank you, each volunteer will receive a free T-shirt and a $5 discount for the annual Huskie Bash that evening.

Huskies Helping Huskies volunteers will be stationed at kiosks across campus Monday, Aug. 28, or Tuesday, Aug. 29, to answer students' questions or direct them to a particular destination on campus.

House Calls volunteers will greet first-year students at assigned residence hall floors the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 29. Volunteers will welcome these students to campus and answer any questions. Because college is the first time many students are away from home, these house calls serve to calm any lingering fears these students might have.

Huskies Helping Huskies and House Calls volunteers each will receive a $5 discount for the annual Huskie Bash, the evening of Thursday, Aug. 24.

Those who are able to join the Division of Student Affairs as it rolls out a red-carpet welcome for our new students should complete the volunteer registration at http://www.niu.edu/Housing/openday/volfacstaff.shtml.

Volunteers will be contacted over the summer with further details. Members of the NIU Operating Staff who wish to participate can request release from their normal duties. Staff participation is subject to supervisory approval and should not interfere with the normal operational needs of the university.

“Welcome Days are exciting, exhilarating and a little bit scary for new students and families,” Coakley said. “Thank you for considering joining our efforts to provide a warm welcome and a smooth transition to the NIU community.”

For more information, contact Linda Odom at (815) 753-9611 or lodom@niu.edu.

5-30-06